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ARCAs Cap Service

Introduction ARCAs Cap Workflow What We Can Offer FAQ

Introduction

ARCAs Cap Service uses Anti-Reverse Cap Analog (ARCA) tech to synthesize mRNA, solving standard IVT mRNA's translational inefficiency. ARCA stops viral polymerase from reverse cap incorporation, and its Cap 1 derivatives boost stability/fidelity for in vivo uses like vaccines.

Creative Biolabs' Custom ARCAs Cap Service maximizes protein expression/stability via advanced ARCA/Cap 1 strategies, ensuring unidirectional incorporation and immune evasion. It offers research/clinical-grade mRNA with better efficiency, eliminating ~50% conventional capping waste to de-risk preclinical/clinical programs.

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ARCAs Cap

The ARCA principle represents a foundational breakthrough in high-yield mRNA synthesis, with continued refinement leading to the development of therapeutically superior Cap 1 ARCA analogs.

Methods of synthesizing mRNA using ARCA-capped and 5'-triphosphate RNAs. (OA Literature)Fig.1 In the in vitro co-transcription capping method, a cap analogue called ARCA is added to the transcription reaction solution.1

Structure and Mechanism of Action

The ARCA structure, such as 3'−O-Me-m7G(5')ppp(5')G, features a key alteration: the 3'-hydroxyl (OH) group on the methylated guanosine (m7G) moiety is blocked with a methoxy (O-CH3) group. In IVT, the viral RNA polymerase is forced to initiate transcription only from the unblocked 3'-OH of the guanosine (G) moiety. This ensures the correct m7G is positioned at the 5' terminus, eliminating the translational-null reverse-capped product.

Advantages

  • Unidirectional Capping: ARCA (Cap 0) provides a two-fold increase in functional mRNA yield and efficiency compared to standard cap by ensuring ~100% correct cap orientation.
  • Immune Evasion: Cap 1 ARCA provides the crucial 2'−O-methylation that signals "self" to the immune system, leading to a superior safety profile and sustained expression in vivo.

Applications

ARCA-capped mRNA is a critical component across virtually all cutting-edge RNA applications due to its superior performance:

  • Vaccinology: Used in the development of highly potent infectious disease and cancer mRNA vaccines.
  • Gene Therapy/Protein Replacement: Essential for achieving the sustained, high-level protein production needed for treating genetic disorders.
  • Functional Genomics: Ideal for reporter assays and CRISPR/Cas9 delivery, where reproducible, high-fidelity translation is required.

Workflow

Creative Biolabs provides a comprehensive, streamlined 5-step process. It covers sequence design to final delivery, delivering high-quality, customized ARCA-capped mRNA optimized for your downstream use. The service timeframe ranges from 3 to 6 weeks, which varies based on the complexity of the template design and the level of custom cap modification required.

Project Initiation and Design

Required Starting Materials: Clients provide DNA template, desired mRNA sequence, and target cap structure (e.g., Cap 0 ARCA, Cap 1 ARCA analog). This step ends with confirmation of the final sequence, IVT protocol, and synthesis of necessary reagents.

Consultation & Design
Sequence Optimization

IVT and Co-Transcriptional Capping

Perform In Vitro Transcription with high-concentration, proprietary ARCA or Cap 1 ARCA analogs. Optimize Cap/GTP ratio to maximize co-transcriptional incorporation and minimize uncapped/reverse-capped transcripts. Expected Outcome: Bulk raw mRNA with high capping efficiency.

Purification and Tailing Optimization

Purify raw mRNA via HPLC or magnetic beads to remove enzymes, unincorporated nucleotides, and short/aborted transcripts. Optional Poly(A) tail optimization is available for sequence length consistency.

Chemical Modifications
Synthesis & Purification

Rigorous Quality Control (QC)

Each batch is subjected to comprehensive QC checks, including:

  • Capping Efficiency Analysis: HPLC or LC−MS to confirm the precise cap structure.
  • Integrity Confirmation: Agarose gel or Bioanalyzer to verify full-length transcript.
  • Purity Assessment: A260/A280 ratio and qPCR for residual DNA removal.

Functionality Assessment

In vitro translation to confirm biological activity. Upon completion, the client receives the customized, QC-certified ARCA-capped mRNA product (lyophilized or in solution), accompanied by a comprehensive QC Report, Certificate of Analysis (CoA), and HPLC/LC−MS Capping Data.

Quality Control & Validation

What We Can Offer

As your partner in mRNA therapeutic development, Creative Biolabs provides a comprehensive suite of services built around precision capping technology. Our offerings are designed to ensure your mRNA construct is optimized for stability, high expression, and regulatory compliance.

One-Stop mRNA Synthesis with Advanced ARCA Capping

Provide seamless one-stop service from template design to final QC-certified product, focused on advanced ARCA capping strategies.

Scalable IVT & Stable ARCA Supply

Offer scalable IVT capabilities and a robust supply chain, ensuring consistent, high-purity ARCA analogs for R&D to large-scale preclinical projects.

QbD & GMP-Compliant Quality System

Apply Quality-by-Design (QbD) principles and a GMP-compliant quality system optimized for mRNA capping, facilitating future manufacturing transition.

Thorough ARCA Cap & mRNA Integrity Documentation

Use LC−MS and Bioanalyzer to document ARCA cap structure confirmation and mRNA integrity; all procedures are assessed and approved by qualified QA.

Expert mRNA Sequence Optimization & ARCA Selection

Provide expert services for mRNA sequence optimization and optimal ARCA/Cap 1 ARCA analog selection, maximizing translational stability and efficiency in target cell lines.

Customized IVT & Cap/GTP Ratio Optimization

Customize IVT reaction parameters and optimize Cap/GTP molar ratio, maximizing incorporation of client-specific Cap 1 ARCA modifications for peak yield.

Real-Time Monitoring & HACCP for Quality Guarantee

Use Process Analytical Technology (PAT) for real-time monitoring; apply Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) to ARCA raw materials and synthesis, guaranteeing quality.

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Customer Reviews

  • [Doubled Efficacy] Using Creative Biolabs' ARCAs Cap Service in our reporter assays has significantly improved the consistency and magnitude of luminescence. The guaranteed correct orientation means we no longer waste ~50% of our transcript.

    2024, Dr. Alison Mercer.

  • [Enhanced In Vivo Stability] The Cap 1 analogs from Creative Biolabs were vital for our long-term in vivo study. The 2'−O-methylation clearly reduced degradation compared to our prior standard ARCA—the resulting protein expression window was noticeably extended.

    2025, Dr. Chris Smith.

  • [Seamless QC/Regulatory Prep] Creative Biolabs' LC−MS data for the cap structure was incredibly detailed. It greatly facilitated our internal QC process and provided the precise structural evidence we needed when comparing the ARCA strategy to enzymatic capping for our latest preclinical data package.

    2023, Dr. Lara Johnson

FAQs

Q: Why should I choose Cap 1 ARCA over standard ARCA?

A: Cap 1 ARCA is the superior choice for therapeutics. The additional 2'−O-methylation acts as a "self" recognition signal in human cells. This modification significantly reduces innate immune sensing and degradation, leading to much longer in vivo half-life and higher sustained protein expression. We strongly recommend Cap 1 for clinical candidates; contact our team to learn which analog best suits your needs.

Q: How does Creative Biolabs ensure the quality and purity of the ARCA cap?

A: We employ rigorous Quality Control protocols. We use a combination of HPLC and LC−MS analysis specifically to confirm the precise chemical structure of the cap, the capping efficiency, and the absence of reverse-capped product. This detailed analysis ensures the purity and integrity of the cap, which is a key requirement for GLP/GMP readiness.

Q: Can Creative Biolabs provide custom modifications to the ARCA structure?

A: Absolutely. Our expertise lies in the synthesis of custom-modified ARCA analogs, including those with different Cap 1 proximal nucleotides (e.g., GmG or AmG), fluorophosphate groups, or other chemical alterations. These modifications are designed to fine-tune mRNA performance for unique challenges, such as enhanced affinity for eIF4E or ultra-high stability.

Creative Biolabs' ARCAs Cap Service offers next-gen mRNA synthesis. It combines ARCA's unidirectional incorporation with Cap 1 2'-O-methylation, delivering top-quality mRNA for therapeutics and vaccines. Choose Creative Biolabs to advance your project from concept to clinic with unmatched confidence and speed.

Contact Our Team for More Information and to Discuss Your Project

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Hot IVTScrip™ mRNA Transcript

Cat. No Product Name Type
CAT#: GTTS-WQ001MR) IVTScrip™ mRNA-EGFP (Cap 1, 30 nt-poly(A)) Reporter Gene
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(CAT#: GTTS-WQ004MR) IVTScrip™ mRNA-Fluc (Cap 1, 30 nt-poly(A)) Reporter Gene
(CAT#: GTTS-WQ009MR) IVTScrip™ mRNA-β gal (Cap 1, 30 nt-poly(A)) Reporter Gene

Reference

  1. Inagaki, Masahito. "Cell reprogramming and differentiation utilizing messenger RNA for regenerative medicine." Journal of Developmental Biology 12.1 (2023): 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb12010001. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.
All products and services are For Research Use Only and CANNOT be used in the treatment or diagnosis of disease.